4:18 am, July 27, 2011
POLISH drivers in Southampton can now purchase their new vehicle conversing entirely in their native language.
That’s because Snows Group has appointed a Polish sales executive to meet the needs of car buyers from Poland who have settled in the city.
Agnieszka Zytkiewicz took up her post as sales executive with Snows Toyota Southampton two days ago. The move reflects the large Polish community which is estimated to be around one in 10 of the 200,000-strong population in Southampton.
Zytkiewicz: ‘The centre is selling increasing numbers of vehicles to the Polish community and as it can be a complex process, particularly if finance is involved, it can be very difficult if English is your second language.
‘Snows Group wanted to be able to provide this service to what has become a very significant portion of their customers; we are probably seeing two or three native Polish speakers in the showroom on a weekly basis and having a Polish sales executive means everything becomes more straightforward for both the customer and the business.
‘As far as we’re aware, we’re the only franchised automotive business offering a Polish-speaking service in the city.’
Within four-and-a-half hours of taking up her role, Zytkiewicz, who has lived in the UK for eight years, sold her first car although it was to an English customer, she adds: ‘Obviously, I am not exclusively handling Polish customers but I am looking forward to conducting my first sale purely in Polish!’
Zytkiewicz has worked at sister business Lexus Hedge End for the past five years where she has undertaken the role as centre host and business sales administrator. But she has always wanted to make the transition to the showroom floor and the increasing need for a Polish speaker in Southampton provided the opportunity.
